MMDA opens enhanced bus dispatch terminal at Coastal Mall to ease EDSA traffic

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority expects traffic along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) to ease as it opened Tuesday an enhanced bus dispatch system terminal in the Coastal Mall area in Parañaque City.

 

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the Bus Management Dispatch System (BMDS) will make sure colorums or out-of-line buses will not cruise along EDSA since the system verifies license plates from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board's database.

 

At least 5,862 city buses are registered in the database, which is also linked with other agencies including the Land Transportation Office and National Bureau of Investigation.

 

"BMDS is an enhanced bus dispatch system that does not only regulate the number of public utility buses in EDSA but also monitors the drivers manning them through biometrics or finger-scanning to verify their profile," the MMDA said.

 

More than 900 buses will be covered by the Coastal Mall terminal, the MMDA said.

 

A separate report on dzBB radio said the system also bars drivers with three or more traffic violations from plying EDSA.

 

Initially launched at the MMDA bus dispatch terminal in Fairview in Quezon City, the program also had major terminals in Malabon and Alabang, with 10 satellite stations all over Metro Manila.

 

Commuters' safety

 

Tolentino said the system also aims to ensure the safety of commuters as only drivers with less than three pending traffic violations will be dispatched from the terminal.

 

"Those with more than three should settle their traffic violation tickets first before being allowed to ply their routes," Tolentino said. —KG, GMA News